To celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 we are taking a look back at the a recent press piece featuring of dynamic director!
In the Company Of Debbie Day – As published in the Harrogate Advertiser / Ripon Gazette / Wetherby News on 06.08.18
Name: | Debbie Day |
Age: | 37 |
Birthplace: | Leeds |
Job title: | Director |
Company name: | The Solution House |
Company address: | Unit 27/28 Centre Park, Marston Business Park, Rudgate, Tockwith, York YO26 7QF |
Company founded: | 2004 |
Number of staff: | 20 |
1. In a nutshell, what does your company do and how did it start?
We get brands noticed through visual communication solutions – from exhibition stands to retail window installations, light boxes, large format signage, branding an airline hangar, a giant Christmas dartboard for a flagship store on Oxford Street! – if there is a creative solution to enhance your brand we can manufacture and deliver it.
2. What’s the most surprising thing about it?
We work on projects for some of the worlds most recognised brands all from our factory in the Tockwith countryside, surprising from the outset but once you’re through the door, meet the team and see the factory it all makes sense. If Google are happy with the job you helped deliver for them then you know you’re doing something right!
3. What do you do?
I spin a lot of plates & every day is a different challenge – some days I can be working with Jet2.com on the many projects we deliver for them across Europe or at Cowes with Sunsail helping them work on a strategy to get their customers to engage with the virtual reality technology they offer on their exhibition stands….. or signing of month end accounts.
4. How did you end up here?
After completing a business degree at the University of Sheffield Hallam, I was working in a law firm and The Solution House came from a need for a more exciting professional life. Our family business is based in print but we really wanted to take this further & offer full service visual & brand experience solutions from concept right through to installation.
5. If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? (i.e. in your career)
Yacht skipper. I have just completed my ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft / International Certificate of Competence) so looking forward to sailing in many different locations.
6. What motivates you?
Making ‘can’t happen’ – happen! We quite often receive projects which require quick thinking & manufacturing. It’s not unusual for us to turn a job around & have an installation team on a plane ready to go within days. I should really look into signing everyone up with airmiles!
7. What one thing do you wish you had known when you started out in business?
The buzz it would give me and the sense of achievement you can feel when you see a concept turn from a phone call or a sketch to seeing the project installed and delivering for our clients.
8. What excites you about business?
The future of The Solution House. We have recently invested in expanding our factory and in new machinery to keep enhancing the services we can offer. We take regular research trips to tech hubs and expos especially to China to make sure we are always at the forefront of the market and what we can offer.
9. What is your pet hate in business?
Negativity – there’s not always an obvious solution but there will be a solution and a positive attitude always get you there quicker!
10. What advice would you give to people just starting their careers?
Stick to your principles and your gut feeling is usually always right. Also invest in people, our business although is primarily visual marketing and manufacturing based it’s also a people business too. Our relationships with both clients and the team we have keeps everything working as smoothly as it can. Once you get the right team in place and know your product and service inside out you will fly.
11. Who in business do you most admire, and why?
All entrepreneurs and self-made business people. When it’s your vision and your business there really is nowhere to hide which is why integrity in business is so important.
12. What moments of your career so far stand out?
When the team at The Solution House pull together and far out exceed clients expectations. To see the company grow from our first office in Leeds to our bespoke factory, studio and offices in Tockwith and working with the client calibre we makes me really proud.
13. What sets your company apart from the competition?
As a company we never say no and there is 24 hours in a day. There’s always a way to get things done and having all our team & fabrication facility on site makes the challenges easier. We can print or manufacture pretty much anything from a Santa sleigh with airline seats for Jet2.com or a bespoke room set for a store window for Ralph Lauren – there’s no limit really. We have teams working across Europe surveying and installing for a number of clients – in this business precision is everything and pair of expert eyes on a project or potential site is more often than not invaluable.
14. What is the most difficult challenge your company has faced? And what challenges are you experiencing at the moment?
The uncertainty of the future economy is a worry, but like everyone else we’ll just need to hope we get the deal we need in Europe to help us sustain our growth. Working within ever tighter budgets but still delivering outstanding results is a challenge but we always get there, it sometimes just takes more thinking!
15. Have you got a five-year goal for the company?
Continued investment in people and technology – we are offering more brand and customer experience solutions so we are also looking to evolve this side of the business too, helping brands define ‘ how to ’ as well as delivering the visual elements of campaigns. As we research the future of the market further we are always striving to be at the forefront of how creativity and the latest technology can work together to deliver the very best results for the clients and brands we work with.
16. Why is it good to do business from Tockwith?
The space we have here is fantastic – it’s a semi rural location so the peacefulness is fab but with great transport links so we couldn’t ask for more really. The view from my window isn’t bad either!